Free-drop container for low-level aerial delivery



Oct. 30, 1962 H. s. JONES ETAL FREE-DROP CONTAINER FOR LOW-LEVEL AERIAL DELIVERY Filed March 9, 1960 INVENTORS HaroLdSJones Gre9 rgL.C/Zl iaco United States Patent Ofiflce assure Patented Oct. 30, 1952 3,061,243 FREE-DROP CONTAINER FOR LOW-LEVEL AERIAL DELWERY Harold S. Jones, Saxonv'iile, Gregory L. Chiriaco, Worcester, and Predrag Shopalovich, Ashiand, Mass, assignors to the United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army Filed Mar. 9, 1960, Ser. No. 13,971 9 Claims. (Cl; 244-138) (Granted under Title 35, US. Code (1952), sec. 266) The invention described herein, if patented, may be manufactured and used by or for the Government for government purposes, without the payment to us of any royalty thereon.

This invention relates to the delivery of articles from low-flying aircraft and has for its primary object to provide a container so designed as to provide a lifting force so as to modify the effect of gravity to the extent that it will minimize the force with which the container eventually hits the ground.

Another object of the invention consists in providing such a container which may be readily enlarged or expanded to accommodate additional material from time to time as may be necessary.

A further object of the invention consists in so constructing such a container as to insure its floatability should it land on a body of Water and also prevent the entrance of moisture to its interior.

A still further object resides in the use of slings attached to the fastening means of the container for properly suspending the container from the bomb shackles of an airplane.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which,

FIGURE 1 is a plan view of the complete container;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view thereof on an enlarged scale with parts broken away; and

FIGURES 3 and 4 are enlarged fragmentary sectional views showing structural details and taken on the lines 33 and 44, respectively, of FIGURES 2 and 1.

Referring to the drawings in greater detail and by reference numeral, the free drop container comprises generally a cover and a hollow shallow shell or body. The cover comprises a circular flat top portion 1 and an upwardly and outwardly directed flange 2, both the flange and top portion being formed of rigid material such as low density polyethylene or Fiberglas, or any other suitable rigid material. This flange 2 is of inverted frustoconical configuration and extends at an obtuse angle from the circular cover, preferably approximately about 150. The flange is of substantial width and projects angularly upwardly and outwardly for a distance greater than the depth of the cylindrical side wall 7 of the body of the container, as shown in FIG. 3 of the drawing, and thus serves as a retarder-stabilizer in the flight of the container as will more fully appear hereinafter. At its juncture with the top portion 1, the flange 2 is provided with diametrically opposed slots 3 for the reception of tying bands for securing the cover in position on the container body. This flange may also be provided with hand openings 4 for manipulation of the container. Depending from the cover portion 1 is a cylindrical flange 5 for slidable contact with the body of the container.

The body of the container comprises a circular bottom wall portion 6 and a cylindrical side wall 7. The side wall 7 is provided with an oifset portion 8 at about midway of its height so as to provide an upper portion 9 which is spaced slightly outwardly of the lower portion 9' of the side wall as indicated in FIGS. 3 and 4. The outer diameter of the upper portion 9 is substantially the same as the inner diameter of the depending flange 5 of the cover 1, and the outer diameter of the lower portion 9' of the side wall is substantially the same as the inner diameter of the upper portion 9 of the side wall. By reason of this proportioning of the side walls of the body portion, it will be apparent that a second body portion, indicated in dotted lines in FIG. 3 and designated by the numeral 10 may be received by sliding the upper portion over the lower side wall portion 9' of the upper body portion.

The cover 1-2 may be secured to the body :6-7 by means of a pair of bands or straps 11 provided with buckles 12 by passing the bands through the slots 3 of the flange 2 and under the bottom wall portion 6 of the container. Of course, if a second body portion 10 is added, these bands 11 would extend below them both in the same manner. To prevent the entrance of water to the interior of the container in the event it should land in a body of water, and thus render the container floatable and insure against damage to its contents, rubberized, or other suitable tapes 13 serve to seal the container and provide for additional rigidity of the assembly.

In order to suspend the container from the bomb shackles of the aircraft, a pair of slings 14, preferably formed of rolled nylon webbing, is attached to one of the fastening straps 1d. These slings are slidably mounted longitudinally of the straps 11 so as to provide a choice of convenient relation between the hanging points and the center of gravity of the loaded carrier. This relation is reflected in the shape of the trajectory of the falling container and is considered important especially for low-altitude drops when the horizontal force will prevail over the vertical force during the travel of the container to its destination. These slings may be secured in their adjusted relation to the container by means of suitable taping, such as glass filament tapes 15.

As heretofore indicated, this container is intended primarily for use in the ejection of maps, military photos, messages, or other small items from a low-flying aircraft at an altitude of from 50 to 200 feet from the ground at a speed of to 220 knots. To accomplish this without serious damage to the container and its contents, the upwardly directed flange 2 is provided. This flange acts in the nature of an airplane wing and serves to provide a lifting force which will oppose the gravitational pull on the container due to the force of inertia possessed by the container by reason of the forward speed of the carrying aircraft, thereby insuring a stable drop and prevent haphazard tumbling of the container during descent. Because of the low range of the drop altitude (50-200 feet), and the high speed of the carrying aircraft, the container is influenced predominantly by the effect of the horizontal component of the polygon of forces, under which influence the drop container descends when ejected from a carrying aircraft.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the attached drawings, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that we have devised a novel and simplified free drop container for low-flying aircraft which is so designed as to temporarily modify the eifect of gravity when discharged from the aircraft, that the container is adjustable or expandable for the reception of additional material when necessary, and that it is capable of adjustment with respect to the bomb shackles of the aircraft so as to suitably modify the trajectory of the falling container.

According to the patent statutes, we have described what we now consider to be the preferred form of the invention, but inasmuch as various minor changes may be made in structural details without departing from the spirit of the invention, it is intended that all such changes be included within the scope of the appended claims.

We claim:

1. A free-drop container for low-level aerial delivery from a moving airplane, comprising a hollow shallow body having a circular bottom, a low cylindrical side wall and a circular flat cover; and a wide rigid inverted frustoconical flange non-rotatably and integrally connected to and encircling the upper periphery of said flat cover and upwardly flaring therefrom at an obtuse angle, said flange projecting angularly outwardly from said body for a distance greater than the depth of said body; and means for securing said cover to said body.

2. A free-drop container according to claim 1, wherein said obtuse angle is about 15 3. A free-drop container according to claim 1, wherein said side wall is outwardly offset in its upper portion, for the nesting reception of a correspondingly shaped additional hollow body Without cover.

4. A free-drop container for low-level aerial delivery from a moving airplane, comprising a hollow shallow body having a circular bottom, a low cylindrical side wall and a circular flat cover; and a wide rigid inverted frustoconical flange non-rotat ably and integrally connected to and encircling the upper periphery of said flat cover and upwardly flaring therefrom at an obtuse angle, said flange projecting angularly outwardly from said body for a distance greater than the depth of said body; said cover further having a depending cylindrical flange slidably contacting said cylindrical side wall; and means for securing said cover to said body.

5. A free-drop container according to claim 4, wherein a sealing tape encircles the juncture between said cover and said side wall.

6. A free-drop container according to claim 4, wherein said side wall is outwardly offset in its upper portion, for the nesting reception of a correspondingly shaped additional hollow body without cover.

7. A free-drop container for low-level aerial delivery from a moving airplane, comprising a hollow shallow body having a circular bottom, a low cylindrical side wall and a circular flat cover; and a wide rigid inverted frustoconical flange non-rotatably and integrally connected to and encircling the upper periphery of said flat cover and upwardly flaring therefrom at an obtuse angle, said flange projecting angularly outwardly from said body for a distance greater than the depth of said body; and means :for securing said cover to said body, said means including a fastening band, and a plurality of diametrically opposed slots in said flange for passing said fastening band therethrough and around said body.

8. A free-drop container according to claim 7, wherein ,said cover also has a depending cylindrical flange slidably contacting said cylindrical side wall.

9. A free-drop container according to claim 7, wherein said obtuse angle is about References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,280,245 Kubeczko Oct. 1, 1918 1,385,484 Case July 26, 1921 1,725,527 Kondolf Aug. 20, 1929 2,324,146 Frazer July 13, 1943 2,368,258 Manson Jan. 30, 1945 2,514,573 Harrison July 11, 1950 2,594,628 Evans Apr. 29, 1952 2,700,517 Stavely Jan. 25, 1955 2,784,755 Bender Mar. 12 ,1957 

